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09/09/2007: "Security for Ukhrul buses OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"
Security for Ukhrul buses OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, Sept. 8: The Okram Ibobi Singh government has provided security escorts for buses plying between Imphal and Ukhrul town as a part of its measures to prevent clashes between the Kukis and Nagas in the district.
Four security vehicles comprising armed police and Manipur Rifles personnel are escorting the buses from Litan in Ukhrul to Yaingangpokpi gate in Imphal East district from today. Militant groups belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities are reportedly active in these areas.
“The combined team of the armed police and Manipur Rifles will continue to escort the passenger buses in a convoy till complete normalcy returns in the district,” the superintendent of police of Ukhrul, L. Dorjee, said.
The SP said though there is “no tension” between the two communities in the district, the state home department does not want to take any chances. The superintendent of police of Imphal East district, L. Kailun, said security measures have been tightened in Kuki and Naga-dominated areas in the district. “We are patrolling the tribal pockets in Imphal East and all possible measures have been taken to maintain peace and order,” Kailun said.
Tension has been mounting between the two communities after the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) gunned down 10 activists of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) at Tangkhul Hundung in Ukhrul district on Monday. The Naga rebels also took away the weapons of the KLA members. The NSCN (I-M) justified the killings by saying “criminal activities” by the KLA activists had prompted them to take action against them. The KLA has rejected the accusations made by the NSCN (I-M). It KLA has asked the Naga outfit to return the snatched weapons and pay fines according to tribal laws.
“Failing to fulfil the two conditions would be tantamount to inviting a bloodshed similar to the one between the two communities in the nineties,” the KLA publicity secretary, Ady Kuki, warned. The Kuki organisations, including armed Kuki groups like the Kuki National Organisation, the Kuki National Front and the Kuki Revolutionary Army, has unanimously condemned the “unprovoked killings”.
Kukis petition NSCN (IM) Chairman over KLA killings The Morung Express
Dimapur, Sept 8 (MExN): Four Kuki frontal organisations today directly asked the Chairman of NSCN (IM) faction, Isak Chishi Swu whether he had ordered the killings of the ten KLA cadres after ‘inviting’ them to a village called Tangkhul Hundung on September 3 last.
An open letter addressed to Isak Chishi Swu, NSCN (IM) chairman by four Kuki frontal organisations, while acknowledging and terming as courageous, the response of the NSCN (IM)’s chairman and owning up the September 3 incident, expressed their dissatisfaction over the reason given by the NSCN (IM) chairman.
“The Kuki people would like to know more about the motive behind the killing because the reasons you have mentioned in your response was not satisfactory and not justifiable,” the letter stated. “The Kuki civil organisations wanted to know from you (Isak Swu) again who has ordered the killing of 10 KLA cadres? Have you ordered the killing? Or who has done it and why?”
The letter said that the ‘Fact Finding Team has been constituted and asked the NSCN (IM) leadership to speak the truth about the killing in order to bring peace and harmony’. The letter said that the Kuki frontal organisations have been doing everything possible on their part to know ‘why this cold blooded massacre carried out inside a village called Tangkhul Hundung Ukhrul district, Manipur’.
The Kuki organisations nevertheless, called for restraint so as to preserve peace. “First let us join hands to find out the fact,” the letter proposed. The open letter was posted by Presidents of Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, Kuki Women Union, Vice Chairman of Kuki Movement for Human Rights and the General Secretary of KSO GHQ.
Extend NBSE reach: Naga Hoho The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, SEPT 8 (MExN): Reiterating the need for integration of Naga-inhabited areas, the Naga Hoho today sought the “sagacious wisdom” of the Nagaland Government “to expand its parameters of affiliation outside the state of Nagaland under Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) which will definitely bring cohesiveness among the younger generation through academic institutions.”
Naga Hoho president I Bendangmayang Jamir in a statement reasoned, “Synchronization of our perception depends a lot on educational syllabus.”
“The aspiration of Naga people to have compact Naga contiguous areas was a paramount issue since the inception of Naga movement and the need to live under one state has become imperative owing to obvious inherent rights of the Nagas. Keeping these in mind, Naga Hoho today said is fully convinced that even before the realization of traditional integration, we should be integrated spiritually, emotionally, culturally and most importantly the academic factor so as to enable the people to come together as one family under one nation state.”
KYF not satisfied with NSCN-IM explanation Newmai News Network
Imphal Even as the NSCN (IM) had made a clarification regarding the killing of 10 KLA cadres on September 3 at T.Hundung village, it has invited more irks among the Kuki society and tension as it seems, continues to simmer.
C.S.Khongsai, president of the Kuki Youth Federation (KYF), while addressing a press conference said “the NSCN (IM)'s explanation of the killing of 10 KLA cadres is not acceptable”. Khongsai, demanding to make clear the motive behind the killing, cast aspersion whether the act is a direct challenge to the Kukis or a gesture to renew a similar communal flare up like that of the clash between the Kukis and the Nagas more than a decade ago.
Reacting to the press clarification made by the NSCN(IM) in which the outfit mentioned the KLA's kidnapping of a foreign national and Victor Keishing few years back, Khongsai questioned why the NSCN(IM) had not made their objections out rightly during the time. The KYF supremo, while observing that the NSCN (IM)'s accusation of KLA as extortionists and a gang, he counter charged the NSCN (IM) of harboring all kinds of anti-social elements and further questioned whether the NSCN (IM) is free of the accusation. The KYF president also blasted the Centre for not reacting to such criminal activities of the NSCN (IM) and asked whether the NSCN (IM) is following the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement with the Government of India. T.L.Hangmi, vice president of the Youth Front, who also spoke on the occasion supplemented further that the issue of 10 KLA cadres killing must be settled by the social apex bodies of both communities and demanded it should be solved through the Kuki customary law.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Liberastion Army (KLA) accused the NSCN-IM of carrying out the killing under a pre-planned mission, and said the NSCN (IM) will be responsible for any outcome. Addy Kuki, the information and publicity secretary of the KLA, while noting the failure of the NSCN (IM) to respect the September 7 deadline set by the KLA to return the arms seized from the slained cadres, he said the matter is serious and it should be resolved through the Kuki customary law. If the NSCN (IM) fails to return the arms and settle the issue through Kuki customary law, it will suggest it is inviting bloodshed like in the nineties.
Addy questioned that, if 10 KLA cadres were killed for kidnapping a foreign NGO worker and Victor Keishing, what punishment should be given to the NSCN(IM), "which was responsible for killing hundreds of innocent Kukis and uprooting hundreds of villages which was done under the banner of Nagaland for Christ."
He also said the KLO/KLA has never committed anti-social activities on the National Highway. It is the NSCN-IM group which has been indulging in anti-social, anti-people acts, said Andy Kuki.
Meanwhile a national daily from Kolkatta reported that, the Union home ministry has asked the Manipur government to submit a detailed report on the clash between the NSCN (IM) and KLA in Ukhrul district. The daily newspaper, while quoting official source reports, "The Centre has taken a very serious view of the incident and wants a detailed report from the government. A report would be sent in the next few days". The newspaper also reported that, chances of a communal backlash in the wake of the Monday's killing were remote. However, measures have been taken to prevent any eventuality.
Nagas want peace, Jamir tells PM Nagaland Post
Dimapur, Sept 8 (NPN): Amidst growing speculations about the return of Governor of Goa and former Chief Minister of Nagaland Lokshree SC Jamir to state politics, the Governor Saturday called on Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and discussed at length various issues pertaining to the north-eastern region.
A statement issued by the OSD to the Governor said Jamir expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the generous grants and fund provisions to Nagaland in particular in the last few years and requested him to continue to be generous with the State as it did not have enough resources of its own and depended on these provisions. At the same time he said Centre should ensure that these funds were judiciously and properly utilized and that the benefits percolated down to the common people.
Jamir appreciated the Centre for its Look East Policy and expressed confidence that the policy, if implemented in letter and spirit, would change the mindset and fortunes of the people of the entire region through commerce and trade with the Southeast Asian nations. Further, Jamir discussed the prevailing law and order situation in the north-east with the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor who was also present at the meeting. Commenting on Nagaland, he pointed out that the people as a whole wanted permanent solution to the protracted Naga political problem so that they could live peacefully. He insisted that the mutually-agreed upon ceasefire ground rules should be adhered to strictly both in letter and spirit by all the parties concerned.
Jamir pointed out that people were tired of the abnormal situation prevailing in the State and wanted to see the restoration of peace and normalcy in the State.
Jamir meets PM Talks held on peace process, development The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, SEPT 8 (MExN): Goa Governor Dr SC Jamir had an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh this evening, informed Sebastian Zumvu, OSD to the Governor. They discussed at length various issues pertaining to the Northeastern region, a press note received here stated. Jamir had arrived in New Delhi last evening after a whirl-wind tour to the region in the last few days.
Jamir thanked the Prime Minister for the generous grants and fund provisions to the State of Nagaland in particular in the last few years and requested him to continue to be generous with the State Government saying that small States like Nagaland which do not have enough resources of it own, depend on these provisions from the Centre. He however, opined that the Centre should ensure these funds are judiciously and properly utilized and that the benefits percolate down to the common people.
Jamir also appreciated the Government of India for its Look East Policy and expressed confidence that this policy, if implemented in letter and spirit would change the mindset and fortunes of the people of the entire region through commerce and trade with the Southeast Asian nations.
Jamir also discussed with the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor, Narayanan, who was also present at the meeting, the prevailing law and order situation in the Northeast. Regarding his home State Nagaland, Jamir was of the opinion that the people as a whole want permanent solution to the protracted Naga political problem so that they can live peacefully and normally without any fear. He was of the opinion that the mutually agreed upon Ceasefire Ground Rules should be adhered to strictly both in letter and spirit by all the parties concerned.
He said the people are tired of the abnormal situation in the State and that everything should be done to restore peace and normalcy in the State.
Revolutionaries are for what? By: AK. Delson, Abonmei Witibo, K. Jangailung Kangla on line
Revolutionaries are not to kill, not to torment, not to oppress upon own and its neighboring people but to defend and safeguard from the enemies and oppressors or alien rulers. Revolutionaries are to preserve own people’s identities-land, cultural, political and religion. Of which our land can neither be created nor destroyed by us or neither make it greater nor smaller, our cultural identity can be diversify and excel it in different ways to the other world through our today’s modern educational technique and it is our duty to do that. And these two identities are the legacies of our forefathers left for us and to be inherited for our younger generations to come and so on.
Yes no doubt religion may change with one’s beliefs and faith according to the time unless he or she is clear about his/her salvation, for instance, earlier we Nagas believes in animism and even today there are many especially among our Zeliangrong people. And politics may also change with the change of our fast growing living world and its system.
In the last 7th consultative meeting held at Hebron Camp organized by the NSCN(IM) many public leaders stood up to speak and reaffirm their solidarity to the Isak and Muivah leadership for the Naga cause. At the same time many of them also says “Enough is enough”.
Now these are few of my questions to Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah. After your coming back here in our homeland (since last 7-8 months) how many prayers and fasting program have you done? How many times have you said “our own sins will defeat us”? (As per the daily news papers). I think in every occasion you have get together with the people (both public and your cadres). Have you acknowledged the sins? How many right justice have you done for the better tomorrow Naga Society? Do you really know the history of each and every Naga tribes (their land and people and the related customary law and orders), especially the Zeliangrong? If yes, have you done any justice accordingly, whether the Intaki case or the Zalukie Zangdi or the land donated matter for your General Headquarters and Council Headquarters, Hebron ? Do you know who the land owner of these Headquarters is? Have you done any justice? No, no, no, no. Not at all. The sin that will defeat you is that injustice to the people and ism within and outside your organization’s authorities and cadres. Have you ever remember and speaks about the sacrifice made by one of the world greatest patriot Jadonang for the Naga people fighting against the British rulers? He was the founder of the ‘Naga Raj’ movement against the foreign aggressors. We have many more else to say but we believe you know much better than us because you are leading our Naga people today. And leaders cannot lead people without knowing the history and its evolution that who have done what and from where and how it started and where and how it will end.
As a Naga, Zeliangrong people are the most ‘divided and ruled’ people even upto these days. Divided and set aside in different states of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (though living in one geographical range). On top of divided and ruled by the British rulers and then the Indian, today the Naga revolutionary underground government NSCN(IM)/GPRN is also taking the advantage upon the Zeliangrong people being divided and subdivided by the Indian made administration; trying to snatch away all the land and properties. If our land and economy are no more with us what be the use of Naga Sovereignty and its policy programs for the Zeliangrong.
There is no true revolutionary of Naga who stands for the real cause. Neither the NSCN(IM) nor the NSCN(K) because today you all have seen and heard the so called self made justice of NSCN(IM) and the NSCN(K) fails to acknowledge own brothers outside the Nagaland state. Once one of the most popular NSCN(K) leaders Molatanu says in a local daily paper ‘Nagaland Page’ “Nagas of Manipur are slaves of Meiteis and should remain as slaves and are not welcome in the Naga society”, if we were not misinformed it was in the 19th June 2007 publication. And again it learnt that in the Jalukie Zangdi incident one of the NSCN(IM) leaders Bohoto Kiba says that “Jalukie Zangdi does not belong to Zeliangrong but to the Kacharies and Mias”. What does Bohoto knows about Zeliangrong? As the leaders who have suffered for the Naga cause, Isak and Muivah might have the much more knowledge about the Naga History and its politics and also about the Semas and the Tangkhuls being from the particular tribes. But we don’t think they will know the whole thing about the Anal-Lamkang- Maring Nagas, Angami Nagas, Ao Nagas, Rengma Nagas, Mao-Maram-Poumai Nagas, Chakhesang Nagas, Zeliangrong Nagas etc., then their respective community concerned people related to their customary law and order of their land and people. So, why don’t you seek the concern and knowledge of respective community if you really want to deliver justice before the world? Neither we will know more than the respective concerned tribes or community people, we can confess that.
No gain, no rest, no peace for the Zeliangrong if Nagas are to be differentiate as Nagaland Nagas, Manipur Nagas, Assam Nagas and so on. The slogan ‘Enough is enough’ should be for the Zeliangrong people, today and by now itself if Isak and Muivah fails to recognize the land and law and order and history of Zeliangrong people and its movement for the cause of entire Naga. We have halt our ‘Zeliangrong Homeland’ movement under the banner of Zeliangrong People’s Convention (ZPC) of which we were already about to attain our goals to be under one administrative roof. The Zeliangrong people halt it just for the cause and in the interest of the whole Naga freedom movement.
So, my dear Zeliangrong leaders who are in the revolutionaries’ organization what the gain is for the Zeliangrong people even if the so called sovereignty comes for the Nagas. Zeliangrong are divided and subdivided over and all and over and again suppressed by our own revolutionary underground government. Why can’t you say black is black and white is white. Leave the black and take up the white. Don’t we have our political history of self determination? Let us first stand for our ‘Zeliangrong Homeland’. Let us first be under one administrative roof and stand to our own feet and safeguard our particular Zeliangrong land and then help to safeguard our other Naga brethrens in the days comes. As it is said in our traditional sayings “If you find a place to stand, then you will find a place to sit and then to sleep and rest in peace too.” So, let us fight for our feet to stand on. Let the revolutionary spirit and enthusiasm of Jadonang inspired and prevails in the hearts of each and every Zeliangrong people and build our ‘MAKAMGWAGDI’, the unfulfilled dream Homeland of beloved Haipou Jadonang.
ZELIANGRONG! Ring-te-lou!
NE`s displacement problems unique Thingbaijam Dhamen Kangla on Line
IMPHAL, Sept 8: While displacement of people by a single form is enough to root out a family or a group of people and to cut their livelihoods, the north eastern states in general and Manipur particularly are facing multiple displacement.
A three-day workshop on "Internal displacement in India: Causes, linkages, and durable solutions" held at Kolkata from September 3 to 6, 2007 discussed the studies of academicians and human rights groups and other NGOs including government agencies working for rehabilitation of post displacement of people in context of India. During a discussion on the typology of displacement, international norms and the Indian scenario (Facilitator: Samir Kumar Das) participants observed that displacement which had taken place and was taking place in the north east India was a complicated issue.
In this region displacement is induced by conflict, development and natural disasters and was an ongoing process.
As a participant from the region, this writer among others spoke on the displacement that has been occurring in Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Mizoram induced by the conflicts of different manners.
In the hill areas of this region, inter-village conflicts over the question of ethnicity, space for cultivable lands are occurring. Even as it was not mass displacement in one place, it has great impact on the living and economy of the victims. Apart from all this their displacement is not recognized by the government or any other agencies and no rehabilitation scheme or policy apply to help them to resettle.
This kind of displacement is above the displacement caused by armed conflicts between the security forces and militant outfits and also among the different militant groups mostly based on the ethnicity.
At the same time, natural disasters induced displacement is also taking place. As for instance, in Assam every year during the past few decades thousands of people were displaced by floods. Apart from this, erosion at the river catchment areas in the hills of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram are also displacing people in large numbers. Some participants from other regions of the country wanted to know the situation in Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and other north eastern states but this writer could not elaborately explain due to limited time given.
Earlier explanations of the resource persons (academicians and researchers) on the displacement situation in this region could hardly be understood by the participants even as they wanted to know the real ground situation of the displaced people in this region.
The situation is totally different from that of displacement occurring in Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and some parts of Orissa where setting up of mining industries are causing large scale
displacement but rehabilitation works has been witnessed. Whether rehabilitation package reach the people directly or not is another question. According to participants from these regions, in Chhatisgarh alone, the state government signed as many as 30 memorandums of understanding for setting up of industries in the region since the emergence of the state.
Thousands of people in this state are waiting for displacement with government promise of rehabilitation package and resettlement measure.
The problem in this region is that despite government promises, still around 13 lakhs people who were displaced by the construction of dams and multi-purpose projects taken up are yet to be rehabilitated. The government promised some 20 years back but have not yet converted their words into action.
River bank erosion induced displacement was very common in the Ganga in West Bengal state. Resource persons blamed the cause as big multipurpose projects like the Farakka project and others.
India has so far no specific policy for rehabilitation of the internally displaced people. At the same time, some observed that India has good policies for the welfare of the people but are poorly implemented.
Army-WWF join hands in Western Arunachal The Morung Express
Tenga Valley, September 8 (UNI): The Army and the World Wildlife Fund(WWF) decided to work together, for the first time, to protect the fragile ecology of Arunachal Pradesh, especially in the remote western parts where biodiversity is pristine.
The WWF found the Army to be a most suitable platform for launching the joint action plan for the protection of the state's diverse ecology -- a treasure house of biodiversity in India due to its widespread presence in the area.
The 5 Mountain Division signed an MoU with the WWF on Thursday in remote Tenga valley of Arunachal for a joint action plan for conservation of forest in wildlife in Western Arunachal Pradesh. The MoU was signed by the division's GOC Major General D S Sidhu, and Dr Sejal Worah, Programme Drector,WWF-India. ''This is a historical moment and a giant step for WWF. This is for the first time that a formal relationship has been established with the Indian Army on eco-conservation and is a natural progression from its informal bond,'' Dr Worah told the mediapersons. ''With its infrastructure and reach in remote localities, the Army offers a ready-made platform to the WWF for its programmes,'' he said.
Lauding the efforts of the Indian Army, in eco conservation, Dr Worah said thus forging a relationship would go a long way in protecting the fragile ecology of the region.
Welcoming WWF India's entry in Western Arunachal Pradesh in collaboration with the Army, Major General Sidhu said the Army has platform already existing for eco-conservation. Drawing attention to the efforts of Territorial Army(Ecology), he said efforts had not been showcased yet. Elaborating the Army's contribution in the joint action plan, he said, ''The Army will provide administrative and logistic support to WWF in its programmes in Western Arunachal Pradesh. It will also assist in survey and mapping of wildlife in remote and inhospitable terrain,''adding that A system of recording observation and exchange of date will be formalised.
As a part of the Army's effort on eco-conservation, the GOC explained that majority of troops were from rural background and understood the concerns. ''The Indian army understands the need for ecological conservation and the alliance with WWF will definitely bear fruit in times to come,'' he said. Incidentally, the latest unknown bird was found in Arunachal last year. The new bird, the country's first ornithological find since 1948, could be spotted in the remote areas near Tawang.
Bomb scare on Guwahati flight AGENCIES Times of India
MUMBAI: Passengers of a Kingfisher Airlines flight arriving from Guwahati were evacuated on Saturday evening following an anonymous phone call saying that a bomb had been placed in the aircraft.
"The Delhi office of the airline received the call at around 4 pm stating that a bomb had been placed on the Guwahati-Mumbai-Indore flight. Delhi airline officials then alerted the airport manager here," a spokesperson for the Mumbai International Airport said.
According to officials, the flight which landed in the city at 6 pm was cordoned off on arrival after evacuating passengers.
Later, the flight was taken to a secluded spot where the bomb detection and disposal squad conducted search operations, CISF commandant Sanjay Prakash said.
Former diplomat asks NE to avail benefits of 'Look East Policy' Nagaland Page
Agartala, September 8: Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to US Lalit Man Singh has urged the north eastern states to harness the maximum benefit of the Centre's 'Look East Policy' to meet the challenges of under-development and backwardness.
Delivering the keynote address in the International Seminar on 'Northeast India a Gateway to Southeast Asia, its Prospects for Infrastructure Development, National and International Perspectives' here last evening, Man Singh said the region had played a vital role during pre-Independence because of its strategic position.
The 3-day seminar was organised by the Institution of Engineers (India) Agartala Local Centre.
''The 'Look East Policy' is nothing but reopening trade opportunities with Southeast Asian nations using Northeast as a corridor,'' Man Singh said adding that Tripura and Manipur were the main suppliers of Cassia (Tejpata) and raw silk to the Mughal Empire.
The gap between the NE region and the rest of the country was due to ''prolonged negligence'' of the Centre coupled with ''ethnic conflict and poverty'' he opined.
''This is a challenge to the leaders of the region to turn terrorism into tourism and poverty into prosperity, as India is now one of four summit level partners with China, Japan and Korea of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN),'' he underlined.
He said the trade between India and ASEAN countries had expanded significantly following signing of the Free Trade Area (FTA) agreements with Thailand and Singapore. There were plans to create a free trade area with Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia by 2011 and with the remaining ASEAN countries like Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam by 2016, he added.
''There are a number of structures of sub-regional cooperation in place, including the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation),'' he pointed out. Outside ASEAN, bilateral trade between India and China was improved significantly and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposal for an Asian economic community to include ASEAN, China, Japan, Korea and India generated significant excitement in past years, the diplomat added. Besides, Man Singh, DoNER Secretary Susma Singh, Member (Planning) and Ex-officio Additional Secretary V S Verma, former President of Institution of Engineers (India) and Highway expert C R Alimchandi and delegates from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Philippines participated in the seminar. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, after inaugurating the conference, urged the Centre to come forward for the development of the NE region. He said India's foreign policies should be executed keeping the Northeast perspective in mind. (UNI)
Parents call their ULFA boys back Our Staff Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, Sept 8: “I shall not cry or blame anyone if my son is killed by security forces, rather I shall thank God for giving relief from the humiliation that I am facing today. If he comes back and leads an honest and peaceful life, we will accept him,” said Suren Dadhora and Kusum Dadhora, parents of ULFA ‘sergeant’ Baba Dadhora alias Porag Gogoi.
The parents and relatives of ULFA activists Nabin Duwara alias Agan Dutta, Madhurjyan Gohain alias Lakhi Neog , Rupa Moran alias Monu Gohain and Simron Singh Baruah, while talking with the mediapersons today at the Army’s 11 Guards camp at Paltanbazar, unanimously appealed to their wards and relatives to come back from jungle and lead a normal life. The parents were uncertain about the future of their dear ones and therefore made an appeal through the media.
One of the ULFA activists, Sunil Gogoi alias Lambu, surrendered before the Army on August 24 this year. His mother Rohdoi Gogoi said she is happy that his son has joined the mainstream and appealed to his colleagues to follow his son’s path
“I cannot describe how I passed sleepless nights while my son was away. I believe other parents are also experiencing the same,” she said.
China, India key to prodding Myanmar India Burma News
September 8, 2007: (Reuters) Sydney- The United States and Indonesia believe China and India, which have significant economic ties with Myanmar, should try to exert influence on its junta, since other approaches to the military-ruled country have failed.
U.S. President George W. Bush and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed at a bilateral meeting in Sydney to urge India and China to lean on Myanmar, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda.
"Bush agreed that we should talk with China and India. They are two big neighbours (of Myanmar)," Hasan told reporters after the meeting on the sideline of an Asia-Pacific summit in Sydney.
Hasan said Southeast Asian nations were at a loss as to what to do with their recalcitrant neighbour.
"Actually, all of us in ASEAN have in the past year ... recognised that constructive engagement by ASEAN has not produced any tangible result. We admit that," said Hasan.
"Likewise, also the West, they admit that the sanctions and pressure approach do not work. So we are both frustrated."
Myanmar, one of the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, has in recent days cracked down on escalating protests against huge fuel price rises and inflation in the isolated state.
"We must press the regime in Burma to stop arresting, harassing, and assaulting pro-democracy activists for organising or participating in peaceful demonstrations," Bush said in a speech to Asia-Pacific business executives on Friday.
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jim Jeffrey said Bush had raised Myanmar with many leaders at APEC.
"We would be delighted if both of those countries (India and China) would do more. Everybody needs to do more," he said.
"They're both very important countries that have very significant economic ties with Burma. They both rely on natural resources from Burma, so they're in a good position to be influential, as are other countries," he said.
"I wouldn't want to single out specific actions. We want everybody to take the Burma situation seriously. We are working in a variety of ways and a variety of channels."
FUEL HIKE PROTESTS
More than 150 people have been arrested in Myanmar since Aug. 19, when activists began protests against an increase in fuel prices that nearly halted public transport.
There was no sign the junta was about to release them. Instead, it sounded a defiant note, accusing exile dissident groups of fomenting the protests and signalling no let-up in efforts to crush the dissent.
China, Myanmar's closest ally which is usually reticent when it comes to the affairs of others, has also sounded frustrated with its southeast Asian neighbour.
"China all along has advocated non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. This is a very important principle," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters in Sydney on Saturday.
But he added China felt that constructive international efforts could help create a "good external environment that is beneficial to Myanmar's situation" and reconciliation.
"In handling the relevant problems China has all along not been supportive of the use of sanctions and pressure," he said.
"We believe that on this issue mutual respect and equal dialogue is the best way to resolve things."
The flurry of diplomacy in Sydney came after two days of protests by Buddhist monks who seized 13 government officials and torched their cars in the town of Pakkoku, 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Mandalay.
The repeated outbreaks of dissent, albeit generally small and not swelled by onlookers cowed by all-pervasive security, have been notable for their persistence despite the prospect of long jail terms. (Additional reorting by John Ruwitch in Sydney)
